Leaked emails: UAE envoy calls Saudi leadership "f&*%ing coo coo"
In several now-leaked emails, UAE's envoy to the US Yousef Otaiba has called Saudi Arabia's leadership "f%$&ing coo coo". Other emails from the influential politician, often described as "the most charming man in Washington", were released by hackers in June. The earlier emails showed Otaiba had conspired to downgrade Qatar's image as a global power in collusion with journalists.
What do the leaked emails say?
In a 2008 email exchange with his wife Abeer Shoukry, Otaiba talked about a ban on sale of red roses during Valentine's Day, calling the leadership "f*%&ing coo coo". "They're just so stupid… I'm sure Red roses are now being sold in black for extortionately high prices," he wrote. In another, he said Emiratis had more "bad history" with Saudi Arabia than anyone else.
A push for Mohammed bin Salman to the goal?
Taken together, the emails seemed to indicate a plan by Abu Dhabi to deter Riyadh's image and repaint it as a dysfunctional, religiously conservative country. According to Otaiba's emails, the only hope was in Mohammed bin Salman, the newly appointed crown prince, over former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Salman's cousin. Otaiba had earlier said that with Salman, "we see a genuine change".
A smear campaign against Qatar
In June, another set of emails from Otaiba was leaked, which revealed "a very high-stakes campaign that is being launched against Qatar", according to Middle East Eye editor David Hearst. It showed Otaiba working with journalists behind articles accusing Kuwait and Qatar of backing terrorism, and pro-Israel think-tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Afterwards, Saudi, Bahrain, Egypt and UAE cut diplomatic ties with Qatar.
Who's behind the leaks?
The hackers group behind the leaks has been identified as 'Global Leaks'. According to them, their aim is to "reveal how million of dollars were used to hurt reputation of American allies and cause policy change".
